It’s San Juan, one of the biggest celebration weekends on Gran Canaria and throughout Spain, and that entails many traditional fiestas, midnight dips in the sea and various rituals with bonfires and fireworks. Every municipality and neighbourhood is likely to have their own bonfire, as this year there is no fire alert, unlike last year, but there are strict rules to be followed.
Saturday 23 June, Santa Maria de Guía
I Fiesta de la Cerveza Canaria
The ancient northern town of Guía are celebrating their first Canarian beer festival on Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00. Plaza de San Pedro in Atalaya will host artisans, fashion, local business, gastronomic offers with tapas and many Canarian artisanal beers with live music from 13:00 and 16:00
22-24 June, Las Palmas
the 540th Anniversary festivities of the foundation of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas is in a festive mode with their foundation celebrations. See our full article here.
On Friday, from 11:00 to 19:00 at Plaza de Santa Ana “Échame una pata” Food collection for shelter dogs and cats. Organised by local lager brand: Tropical.
From 09:00 to 20:30 at Playa de Las Canteras (at the Royal Victoria Club) an exhibition of traditional garrotte fighting and the native martial art of canarian wrestling “Lucha Canaria“.
From 20:30 to 23:30 The third edition of «Music in the heart of Vegueta», will again have ten performance spaces, eight courtyards and two squares, Plaza San Agustín and Plaza Pilar Nuevo, where you can enjoy ten formations of very different styles. Live music in courtyards of the historic centre. Free admission until complete capacity.
On Saturday, the traditional bonfires on the eve of San Juan in different parts of the city and a collective dip in the sea taken by thousands of people at the Las Canteras beach.
From 10:00 to 19:00 Lucha de Garrotte (stick fighting) display in Playa de Las Canteras (beside the Royal club Victoria. )
At 17:00 The city Bay. Sailing Regatta Latina Contest. Between the La Laja tunnel and the mouth of the Sports Pier.
At 18:00 Display of Canarian wrestling at Las Canteras beach (La Cícer area).
At 22:30 PLAYA DE LAS CANTERAS (at the plaza de Saulo Torón). Night of San Juan. Concert for the city: Olga Cerpa and Mestisay.
at 24:00 Fireworks from the Plaza de La Puntilla.
On Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00 Lucha de garrote ( stick fighting ) exhibition at Playa de Las Canteras, at the height of Real Club Victoria )
At 11:30 Folkmusic group Roque Nublo at Parque Doramas ( Anfi Theatre)
At 12:30 Folkmusic group Umialla at Plaza del Pilar Nuevo
At 21:00 a tribute concert to Celia Cruz by Lucrecia at the outdoor auditorium of Parque Doramas
Saturday 23 June, San Bartolome de Tirajana
Midsummer night festivities
in Playa del Ingles in the public square at shopping centre Anexo starting at 19:00, shows, music and fireworks.
Other festivities in the municipality
Playa de El Pajar : the lovely seaside community El Pajar by the cement factory, is celebrating San Juan with children’s animation and bouncy castles at 18:00, at 22:00 concerts from : La Quinta marcha and Son de 2 and at 23:00 a traditional bonfire.
Castillo del Romeral: at the centro cultural at 21:00 a corn barbecue
Fataga : bonfire and corn barbecue at 19:00
Tunte : bonfire and barbecue at 19:00 at Plaza de Tunte and parking lot
Saturday 23 June, Mogán
Noche de San Juan
Mogán celebrates the night of San Juan in Playa de Mogán. The party will begin at 21:30 with the popular corn barbecue and a performance from ‘E komo mai’. Later, the Cuban music of ‘Habaneros’ will liven up the evening, after which there will be a lively street parade with batucada and circus performers. At midnight, the great bonfire of San Juan and a fireworks show. The party is set to continue until dawn with a party accompanied by Güira Latina.
Saturday 23 June, Tejeda
II Noche Romántica de Tejeda – Una Noche Bajo las Estrellas
On a night for lovers and for romance under the stars ‘The Most Beautiful Kiss in The World’ will be just one of the many highlights of the II Romantic Night (Noche Romántica) to be hosted in one of Gran Canaria’s most picturesque little mountain villages, Tejeda.
See the full program for for Tejeda in our article HERE
23-24 June, Telde
Fiestas patronales de San Juan Bautista
The northeastern “Royal City” of Telde has been celebrating their patron saint festivities in honour of Saint John the Baptist for a week or more already. The church of San Juan Bautista (John the Baptist) de Telde is the true spiritual centre of Telde.
The history of the area of San Juan is rooted in pre-Hispanic times. It is known that the area was one capital of the two great “kingdoms” of the old Tamarán (Gran Canaria) and as such the city has lots of examples of the old Canarias, with around a hundred archaeological points of interest
On Saturday, a sample of artisans from 11:00 to 21:00 at Plaza de San Juan enlivened by a municipal band at 12:00. Starting at 16:00 the Avenida del Cabildo again becomes the occasional racecourse to host horse racing. In the evening on the eve of San Juan, a bonfire at Barranco de Real at 23:30 followed by fireworks at midnight.
On Sunday, a sample of artisans will exhibit from 11:00-21:00 at Plaza San Juan and at 11:30 animation for children with workshops and bouncy castles. Also in the morning from 09:00 to 13:00 a cattle exhibition at Recinto ferial de La Hoya. At 19:30 the solemn Eucharist at the church followed by a religious procession. At 20:00 a concert by “La Trova” in Plaza San Juan.
The horse race will cause traffic restrictions on Avda del Cabildo on Saturday.
Saturday 23 June, Santa Lucia
“Noche Embrujada” in Pozo Izquierdo
Santa Lucia is celebrating midsummer night with “Bewitched night” festivities.
The beach of Pozo Izquierdo this Saturday receives monstrous characters and original carts that are part of the ‘Circus of Horrors’.
A show for the Night of San Juan in which more than 80 people and will turn the Barranquillo area into a space where magic and horror coexist.
So at 22:00 a show dedicated to multidisciplinary “Circus of Horrors” on stage that begins with the announcement and the arrival of the caravan of the ‘Circus of Horrors’.
Later, aquatic fireworks at 23:00 followed by a concert by the group La Trova at 23:30.
There will be traffic restriction in Pozo Izquierdo so please follow the signs. The area in front of the International Windsurfing Center will have free parking and there will also be a taxi stand at Avenida Punta de Tenefé.
Saturday 23 June, Gáldar
Noche de San Juan Marinero · Sardina de Gáldar
Mariners midsummer festivities in Sardina de Gáldar, coastal part of the north-western “Royal City”.
22:00 festive street parades, at 23:00 music with a DJ and at midnight aquatics and air show with fireworks.
Sunday 24 June, Tenteniguada – Valsequillo
Fiesta San Juan, Dia de San Juan Bautista
The picturesque mountain neighbourhood of Tenteniguada in the municipality of Valsequillo is celebrating St. John’s Day as well on Sunday. Early morning “Diana floreada” at 6 am with the arrival of the Agaete music band with the ascent to El Rincón de Tenteniguada. Followed by a pre-hispanic echo in the form of “Bajada de la Rama” (lowering of the branch) from el Rincón to the Plaza San Juan with the rhythms of the Agaete band.
At 09:30 a cattle fair and at midday Eucharist and a religious procession with the image of St. John through the streets of the village, followed by a small cattle parade and awards for the best specimen.
Popular lunch at 14:30 on the Plaza Nuevo with music and at 15:00 Mariachi music.
Just like last year, it was a special celebration because the centenary of the construction and inauguration of the church of San Juan Bautista (1917-2017) , this one is again a milestone year because it commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the Official Creation of the Parish of San Juan Bautista de Tenteniguada
Rustic elegance at its finest
Other events happening during the weekend
AGUIMES: festivities of St. John Baptist 21-24 June in Las Corralillos, includes a Romeria, a pilgrimage offering on Friday.
